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A manifesto for the workplace feminist that moved Oscar winner Jane Fonda to exclaim “Please, please, please. All working women must read this book!”
Enough about “breaking the glass ceiling.” Here are blueprints for a redesign of the entire building, ground up, to benefit women and men—as well as the bottom line.
In Taking on the Big Boys, longtime labor activist Ellen Bravo explores workplace environments in both business and government. She recounts women’s testimonies from offices, assembly lines, hospitals, and schools, unmasking the patronizing, trivializing, and minimizing tactics employed by “the big boys” and their surrogates, such as portraying feminism as women against men, and dismissing demands for pay equity, family leave, and flex time as outrageous.
Also included are practical tips on everything from dealing with a sexual harasser to getting family members to share chores—and build equal relationships.
In this “smart, kind, funny, and very effective” Gold Medal Winner of ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award for Women’s Issues, Bravo argues for feminism as a system of beliefs, laws, and practices that value women and work associated with women, while detailing activist strategies to achieve a society where everybody—women and men—reach their potential (Gloria Steinem).
"Bravo (Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) tackles issues and myths surrounding pay equity, the balance of work and home life, discrimination, and welfare. Even more useful are her realistic, attainable suggestions for change. A witty, statistically supported, and readable book that provides a strong message sure to foster ideas and generate debate. Summing Up: Highly recommended." —Choice
“Taking on the Big Boys is feminism at its butt-kicking best—an exposé, a manifesto, and a spirited, delightful read. I thought I knew a lot about women’s economic status before I read this book, but I had barely scratched the surface. Bravo for Bravo!” —Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed
"Smart, kind, funny, and very effective, [Bravo] has put her lifetime of organizing skills into Taking on the Big Boys." —Gloria Steinem, author of My Life on the Road
"[Bravo] takes attacks on the pay equity issue head on. Bravo enlightens the reader in a no-nonsense way on deep-seated workplace attitudes and practices that hinder women's progress on the pay front. More importantly she shows us how public policy is influenced through a variety of tactics used by opponents." —Martha Burk, cofounder of the Center for Advancement of Public Policy
“Finally, an answer to the Mommy Wars and opting-out myth . . . Taking on the Big Boys shines a bright light on the pervasive bias against mothers who work along with the high price we all have to pay for failing to support parent's dual responsibilities. Happily fixing the problem is not only the right thing to do but good for everyone. Time to Take on the Big Boys! ” —Joan Blades, cofounder of MoveOn.org
"Despite impressive progress, women in our society still face many challenges; they're fortunate to have champions like Ellen Bravo. She's a powerful advocate, and she makes clear in this excellent book that more needs to be done to achieve real equality, eliminate glass ceilings, reward work fairly, and strengthen families. Her proposals for reform will be of value to policy-makers, activists, and caring citizens alike." —Edward M. Kennedy, former senator of Massachusetts
"Stop whatever you are doing and read this book! This is a call to arms no thinking person can refuse." —Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Wisconsin
"Ellen Bravo's book. . . is a fresh look at the classic women's issues that arise in the workplace. . . the information is accessible, presented with humor, solidly analytical, and yet easy to digest. . .in a way that will get people to listen." —Labor Studies Journal
"It's a myth-buster and an eye-opener . . . building the world we all need and deserve." —Linda Chavez-Thompson, executive vice president, AFL-CIO